Beth El Temple of West Hartford

Welcome To Beth El Temple!

Learning

We enjoy and encourage all levels of learning, from our youngest members to our lifelong learners. Discover ways to grow in your faith with us.

Mitzvot

We are cooking, planting, knitting and donating our way to a better world. See how you can join us in making an impact today.

Services

Discover our wide range of worship options, from traditional sanctuary services to Shabbat yoga and outdoor celebrations.

Community

Our inclusive family welcomes you to join us as we come together for celebrations and comfort.

EXPLORE OUR COMMUNITY

What’s Happening at Beth El Temple

Thursday, Nov 14th 9:30a to 12:30pInterested in making challah for our Beth El members who are stuck at home due to illness, injury, or mobility challenges? Rabbi Garber is looking for volunteers to join in her challah baking workshop. Participants will get one challah to take home and will make the rest for our members. Volunteers will be asked to deliver challah as well. Free and open to all – but please email Liz DePalma (edepalma@bethelwh.org) to save your spot. Space is limited and we will cancel if we do not have volunteers. Future Date: August 1

Axe Throwing with Men's Club

Thursday, Nov 14th 7:45p to 10:00pPlease join us for a fun evening enjoying the latest craze – Axe Throwing, a (non-)sport in which the competitor throws an axe at a target, attempting to hit the bull’s eye! It is often compared to dart throwing, except with an axe! With 7 pits, 8000 square feet and a brand new Street Curling pit, Montana Nights is the largest axe-throwing facility in New England. We will be providing refreshments; beer and wine available for purchase. Cost: $25 RSVP by 11/7 to David Finitsis (860-790-7195 or davidjfinitsis@gmail.com).

Temple Trivia Throwdown

Motzei Shabbat, Nov 16th 8:00p to 11:00pJoin us Saturday, November 16th at 8pm for TEMPLE TRIVIA THROWDOWN! Featuring Rob Guilmette, professional trivia master and DJ! Beth El members are welcome to invite non-members to join their teams. Tickets are $25 per person and include beer, wine and other drinks, snacks and desserts, and live entertainment. To secure your seat with early-bird pricing of $25/person, register online by November 1st at 2:30pm.

Thanksgiving Turkey Drive

Sunday, Nov 24th 8:30a to 12:00pDrop off a frozen turkey (kosher or non-kosher) on Sunday, November 24th from 8:30am-12pm. Volunteers will be ready at the main building entrance to collect turkeys, canned goods or checks (made out to Jewish Family Services... with "food pantry" in the memo line). Last year, our congregation delivered more than 80 turkeys and a monetary donation of more than $1,200 to the Anja Rosenberg Kosher Food Pantry at JFS. We are determined to help even more families this year. Together we can make this a memorable Thanksgiving for our neighbors in need.

Judaism, Addiction and Recovery: A Spiritual and Faith-Based Approach

Thursday, Dec 5th 7:30p to 9:00pPlease join us for a dessert program with Rabbi Richard Eisenberg. After serving as spiritual leader for many years at a congregation in Woodbridge, CT, Rabbi Eisenberg stepped down from the pulpit to become a certified addiction counselor, hoping to aid in the fight against chemical addiction in the Jewish community. In his new book "Judaism, Addiction and Recovery: A Spiritual and Faith-Based Approach," he shares much of what he has learned over the years about the social, medical and spiritual crisis of addiction. Rabbi Eisenberg discusses treatment and self-help models, not limited to 12-step programs, and shares practical suggestions and tips for anyone affected by the disease of addiction. Jewish texts and sources are interwoven throughout. A Q&A session will conclude the program, followed by a book signing. The cost for this program is $5. Please RSVP by December 2 to Jacob Kovel (860-651-9366 or eaglewars@aol.com). Rabbi Richard L. Eisenberg was born in Bridgeport, CT, received a BA in Anthropology from Duke University, MA in Religious Studies from Smith College, Rabbinical Ordination from the Jewish Theological Seminary and a Certificate in Drug and Alcohol Recovery Counseling from Gateway Community College. Over a span of 35 years, he served as a congregational rabbi in Columbus, GA, Wayne, NJ, Woodbridge, CT and Torrington, CT. He is a certified addictions counselor and worked as a rehabilitation counselor for almost a decade at the APT Foundation, a treatment center in New Haven, CT. He has written for Tablet Magazine and the Forward and is currently working on a book that analyzes modern-day addictions and attachments from a spiritual perspective. Rabbi Eisenberg lives with his wife Judy in Hamden, CT. Program is co-sponsored by Men’s Club and Jewish Family Services (JFS).

BEMA Presents: Pre-Holiday Concert

Sunday, Dec 8th 7:00p to 9:00pA Beautiful and dynamic pre-holiday concert to warm up our musical souls in December! Featuring the impressive Kabalevsky Cello Concerto No. 2, performed by Peter Dzialo, selections from the beautiful Chants Auvergne by French composer Canteloube with soprano Nadia Aguilar, Reverie for viola and orchestra by Joseph Ness and Beethoven’s magnificent 5th Symphony!

Family Service & Lunch

Shabbat, Dec 14th 11:00a to 1:00p We come together as a "family" for a combined service, bringing the best from Mazel Tots, Shabbat Club, and Beth El’s Community You Can Believe In. Our family service concludes with a special lunch and games, aimed at building our Shabbat family community. RSVPs appreciated by Thursday noon.

Topics in Tefilah: An In-Depth Exploration of Prayer

Shabbat, Dec 21st 11:00a to 12:00pExplore elements of our Shabbat services with our rabbis. This is a class, not an actual service.

Topics in Tefilah: An In-Depth Exploration of Prayer

Shabbat, Jan 18th 11:00a to 12:00pExplore elements of our Shabbat services with our rabbis. This is a class, not an actual service.

Family Service & Lunch

Shabbat, Feb 22nd 11:00a to 1:00p We come together as a "family" for a combined service, bringing the best from Mazel Tots, Shabbat Club, and Beth El’s Community You Can Believe In. Our family service concludes with a special lunch and games, aimed at building our Shabbat family community. RSVPs appreciated by Thursday noon.

Topics in Tefilah: An In-Depth Exploration of Prayer

Shabbat, Mar 14th 11:00a to 12:00pExplore elements of our Shabbat services with our rabbis. This is a class, not an actual service.

Family Service & Lunch

Shabbat, Mar 28th 11:00a to 1:00p We come together as a "family" for a combined service, bringing the best from Mazel Tots, Shabbat Club, and Beth El’s Community You Can Believe In. Our family service concludes with a special lunch and games, aimed at building our Shabbat family community. RSVPs appreciated by Thursday noon.

Family Service & Lunch

Shabbat, Apr 25th 11:00a to 1:00p We come together as a "family" for a combined service, bringing the best from Mazel Tots, Shabbat Club, and Beth El’s Community You Can Believe In. Our family service concludes with a special lunch and games, aimed at building our Shabbat family community. RSVPs appreciated by Thursday noon.

Family Service & Lunch

Shabbat, May 30th 11:00a to 1:00p We come together as a "family" for a combined service, bringing the best from Mazel Tots, Shabbat Club, and Beth El’s Community You Can Believe In. Our family service concludes with a special lunch and games, aimed at building our Shabbat family community. RSVPs appreciated by Thursday noon.

Shababa

Friday, Nov 22nd 5:45p to 7:00pShababa is a fun, engaging “service” for our youngest generation. All children ~8 and under (and their siblings, parents, and grandparents) are welcome to experience the joy of Shabbat with dancing, singing, stories, prayers and a free chicken nugget dinner. Join Rabbi Ilana Garber in this free monthly program – part of our early childhood education. RSVPs are not required, but are encouraged to enable us to better plan for dinner. Sponsorship opportunities are available – for just $50 you can celebrate a child’s birthday by sponsoring that month’s Shababa. To sponsor a dinner, please contact Rabbi Ilana Garber (igarber@bethelwh.org or 860-233-9696).

Thanksgiving Turkey Drive

Sunday, Nov 24th 8:30a to 12:00pDrop off a frozen turkey (kosher or non-kosher) on Sunday, November 24th from 8:30am-12pm. Volunteers will be ready at the main building entrance to collect turkeys, canned goods or checks (made out to Jewish Family Services... with "food pantry" in the memo line). Last year, our congregation delivered more than 80 turkeys and a monetary donation of more than $1,200 to the Anja Rosenberg Kosher Food Pantry at JFS. We are determined to help even more families this year. Together we can make this a memorable Thanksgiving for our neighbors in need.

Family Service & Lunch

Shabbat, Dec 14th 11:00a to 1:00p We come together as a "family" for a combined service, bringing the best from Mazel Tots, Shabbat Club, and Beth El’s Community You Can Believe In. Our family service concludes with a special lunch and games, aimed at building our Shabbat family community. RSVPs appreciated by Thursday noon.

Family Chanukah Party

Sunday, Dec 15th 11:30a to 1:00pJoin your Beth El family to celebrate the Festival of Lights! Enjoy games, mitzvah opportunities and a light lunch. This event is free! Please bring a box of cereal to create our giant mitzvah menorah! RSVP online by 12/6 at noon.

Shababa

Friday, Jan 17th 5:45p to 7:00pShababa is a fun, engaging “service” for our youngest generation. All children ~8 and under (and their siblings, parents, and grandparents) are welcome to experience the joy of Shabbat with dancing, singing, stories, prayers and a free chicken nugget dinner. Join Rabbi Ilana Garber in this free monthly program – part of our early childhood education. RSVPs are not required, but are encouraged to enable us to better plan for dinner. Sponsorship opportunities are available – for just $50 you can celebrate a child’s birthday by sponsoring that month’s Shababa. To sponsor a dinner, please contact Rabbi Ilana Garber (igarber@bethelwh.org or 860-233-9696).

Family Service & Lunch

Shabbat, Feb 22nd 11:00a to 1:00p We come together as a "family" for a combined service, bringing the best from Mazel Tots, Shabbat Club, and Beth El’s Community You Can Believe In. Our family service concludes with a special lunch and games, aimed at building our Shabbat family community. RSVPs appreciated by Thursday noon.

Family Service & Lunch

Shabbat, Mar 28th 11:00a to 1:00p We come together as a "family" for a combined service, bringing the best from Mazel Tots, Shabbat Club, and Beth El’s Community You Can Believe In. Our family service concludes with a special lunch and games, aimed at building our Shabbat family community. RSVPs appreciated by Thursday noon.

Family Service & Lunch

Shabbat, Apr 25th 11:00a to 1:00p We come together as a "family" for a combined service, bringing the best from Mazel Tots, Shabbat Club, and Beth El’s Community You Can Believe In. Our family service concludes with a special lunch and games, aimed at building our Shabbat family community. RSVPs appreciated by Thursday noon.

Family Service & Lunch

Shabbat, May 30th 11:00a to 1:00p We come together as a "family" for a combined service, bringing the best from Mazel Tots, Shabbat Club, and Beth El’s Community You Can Believe In. Our family service concludes with a special lunch and games, aimed at building our Shabbat family community. RSVPs appreciated by Thursday noon.

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